Convento de Santa Paula (31)

The Convento de Santa Paula dates to 1475 and remains home to some 40 nuns. You enter through one of the two doors that face the street of the same name; and although entrance is free, please remember that the nuns appreciate donations to help maintain the convent’s museum.

The entrance to the convent was created in the 15th century, combining gothic style with Mudejar and renaissance elements. The ceramics inside are the work of Italian artist Nicola Pisano, although Pedro Millán also collaborated on the decoration.

Inside, you’ll see magnificent wooden coffered ceilings, created in 1623 by Diego López de Arenas. Additionally, there are splendid carvings of Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist, both by Martínez Montañés.

You reach the museum through another outside door, and after climbing the stairs, you will come upon two galleries filled with paintings and religious objects from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Of special mention is the collection of gold and silver work, including the oldest piece in the museum, which dates to the 15th century, as well as reliquary donated by Mariana of Austria in 1694.

Additionally, through the window in the Sala San Isidoro you can admire the beauty of the convent’s main cloister, built at the start of the 17th century. A stroll through the museum ends at the choir, covered by a Mudejar-styled coffered ceiling, an extension of that of the church.

However, before you go, be sure to purchase some of the delicious treats, such as jams and preserves, handmade by the nuns themselves. A sweet temptation.